This is massive. Its not just one player that is the difference. This allows us to shift around our whole D back room.
CB: X and EOC
Nickel: JJ
S: Poyser and Bryce
That starting lineup is soooo much better than:
CB: Bryce and EOC
Nickel: Thornton
S: Poyser and JJ
I agree, honestly if there is one kid I could get back out of everyone banged up, it's either OJ or Lucas. Not that the secondary is abysmal, but we have so many guys out that everyone is playing out of position. Just getting 1 true corner back to pair with EOC gives you a very formidable duo there, and then you can move Bryce back to his natural/best spot, then you can also rotate him down to Nickel and get Dunnigan reps at Safety, or Day, and you can get Thornton off the field in obvious passing situations, and you can spell Poyser at times.
These dudes are all playing out of position, at times, and playing way too many snaps.
Bryce and Thornton played 74 snaps, I believe that was every single play until the last drive of the game.
Poyser played 72
EOC played 66
Dylan Day played 54
Ryan Mack played 26
Dunnigan played 25 (heard he was nicked up)
Damari played 6
That is WAY too much with how much depth we have when everyone's healthy. Obviously it's out of necessity now, but just getting Lucas back, you can have him and EOC play 90% of the snaps, and either Mack or rotate Bryce to take some to give them a breather at corner.
You can get Bryce back at Safety and Nickel so Thornton isn't playing every single snap.
You can let Bryce play one Safety and Dunnigan play the other (or Day) to give Poyser some rest.
Just getting one chess piece back at corner unlocks so much of this secondary. I still can't wrap my mind around Bryce playing 74 snaps, I believe all at corner, and Ryan Mack playing 26 in a game against Clemson. Nothing against Mack, he played pretty well, but he wasn't on my bingo card in camp for getting 26 very meaningful snaps in Game 5 of the season. Pure insanity how decimated we are.